Peach State Fratbros Book 3: For Frat’s Sake by Devon McCormack & Riley Hart

 

Peach State Frat Bros Book 3

DAX

Miles Tanner hates me for no reason.

Me—lovable, easygoing, sexy-as-hell Dax Armstrong, always there when a fellow fratbro needs a hand…or if that fratbro would like to enjoy more than just my hand…

Miles is the broody artist-type who just got off probation for starting the fire at Sigma Alpha.

Basically, a walking red flag.

But for a guy who’s always looking to start a fight with me, I can’t wrap my mind around a night when I was a little too tipsy and he helped me back to Alpha Theta Mu.

Since then, he’s hot and cold. One minute he’s telling me to stay away from him. The next, he moves in for a touch.

Or a kiss.

In these unguarded moments, all those problematic, confusing red flags fade to the background.

Maybe he’s right and I shouldn’t mess with him, but for frat’s sake…where’s the fun in that?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/242284253-for-frat-s-sake

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Definitely my favorite of the series so far! I absolutely fell in love with Miles and Dax and just everything about their story. And I loved seeing how these two fell for one another, especially when they seem like such opposites. Miles currently has a reputation at school for being a loner and the guy whose prank accidentally caused a fire at one of the frat houses. Since then, no one really seems to really think much of him past what they’ve seen. Especially when he acts more grumpy than anything and clearly has stay away vibes. But there is a lot more to Miles than that. First off, there was more to that accident than anyone knows and second, Dax seems to be the only one who realize that Miles wears a mask. Dax has never had a problem with anyone. Everyone seems to like him just fine. Except for his dad and now Miles. He is sunshine and outgoing and can’t seem to get why Miles act like a super nice guy one minute but brushes him off the next. And the more their paths cross, the more Dax wants to know. Neither are prepared for attraction between them to spark so brightly or the feelings that follow after. But these two carry a lot more hurt and grief than anyone truly knows. They understand one another so well and for the first time, the two of them find safety in the other’s presence. Absolutely loved their dynamic. These two simply just needed one another. Needed to find their person who they can let their guard down. I loved getting to know them and watch them fall so hard for one another through all the hard things they are going through. Great story! And I’m looking forward to the next book!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Bridge Kingdom Book 6: The Tempest Blade by Danielle L. Jensen

 

The Bridge Kingdom Book 6

A fugitive on the run, Ahnna has one goal: return to Ithicana with warning of the greatest threat her homeland has ever faced. But as she escapes into the wilderness, it is with the man who broke her heart hunting at her heels—and James wants more than justice. He wants revenge.

Desperate to prove his loyalty to his family, James ventures into dangerous territory to capture his father’s killer. But the longer he follows Ahnna’s trail, the more his certainty of her guilt is tested—and the more the passion they once shared reignites.

As schemes twist tighter and war brews, Ahnna and James discover that the enemy isn’t each other—it is the masterminds manipulating them both in pursuit of power. Yet their greatest obstacle remains, because their loyalties are to opposing sides in the battle to come. As the storms of the Tempest Seas lower their defenses, James and Ahnna must choose where their hearts lie: on the battlefield, or in each other’s arms.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239779236-the-tempest-blade

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Now that is how you end a series! Oh man, that was so good! Especially after that last cliffhanger, I had no idea how anything was going to play off. Last we left off, Ahnna was running for her life after being framed for killing the king of Harendell. The plan so perfectly set that even James, the man she had fallen in love with, believes she is guilty. But there are several other moving pieces going on. The real villains have spun so many threads of deception that finding the truths and evidence will fall not to just Ahnna and James, but to our other favorites of the series: Lara, Aren, Keris, and Zarrah. Going for no spoilers here, but this story was just so great. And it was super long in the best way. It was fast paced, we got to see multiple point of views, and it was just something that kept you on your toes the entire read. Just when you think you figured one thing out, something else happened. I was constantly wondering how Ahnna and James were going to make it through the story with a happy ending when so much was against them. But I loved how it all played it out in the end. It was a satisfying way to end the series and James and Ahnna were the best to bring this series to a close. I loved their dynamic and how they grew so much in this book and even the last. And that after everything, the love they had for one another just became stronger. Great story all around and I am going to miss being in this world!

Sins of the Zodiac Book 3: Cinder Vale by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

 

Sins of the Zodiac Book 3

The dragons are lost.

The elements are at war. Enlisting isn’t optional.

And I’m falling for a man who wants me dead.

I’m a wielder of hearts and summoner of corruption. Heir to nothing and born to a fool in the wrong damn month.

But I’m also one of only two Fae in this divided land of hellions who might be starting to see through the lies we’ve swallowed for so long.

In the year we turn twenty-one, conscripts from across the warring nations of air, fire, earth and water are sent to Never Keep – the only place in our besieged continent where our magic can be Awakened.

But something is wrong inside Never Keep. Something which might extend far beyond the reaches of this desolate fortress. Within the gothic walls of this frigid castle in the snow, we’re left to hold our own against the brutal Fae from the opposing lands.

The Reapers are merciless. The Royals are lying. The Werewolves run rampant and Vampires roam the wastelands in bloodthirsty covens. But even though death lurks in every shadow of the Keep, it’s the least of my worries.

I’m delving into secrets the stars don’t want me uncovering, making alliances with Fae born to be my enemy, falling for a sinner while promising my heart to a different heathen and somewhere amid it all, I’m supposed to win a war.

I thought the only thing I had to do was survive my magical instruction.

Turns out, fate doesn’t favour the wicked.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/232736952-cinder-vale

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

For once a cliffhanger that doesn’t rip your heart out but! Leaves us definitely wanting more considering who just made an appearance. So now I’m super excited for book 4! But let’s talk book 3 first! So, picking up where we left off, lots going on. Vesper unfortunately had to betray Bastien a bit by bringing him to her people, but these two are playing a dangerous game of politics to find their freedom. And for Vesper to finally avenge her sister in arms. These two aren’t done with one another yet in the best of ways and they’ll also have to work together to help Vesper finish fixing the keystones. Meanwhile, Everest has been embraced by her father and people when she became the Void and is now trying to finish this war. But finally getting what she wants isn’t what she thought it would be. Add in the guilt about her killing Kaiser, well, she is a little bit confused on all her feelings. Little does she know that Kaiser is alive and what she did was actually break a spell on him that took away his emotions. He now has to learn to deal with that but also is desperate need to find Everest. And while the war between all four of these elements are in constant motion, there is a bigger threat coming from the Reapers. So we finally get some allies and team ups with our favorite characters. Overall, a lot going on. And I think we are hitting what is my favorite part of these series is which is seeing everyone come together for the bigger cause. I feel like we got a lot of character development with several of the characters in this book, which I also loved. And like always we get a cliffhanger but for once this one was quite good in my opinion. Just made me excited to see more and what comes next now that new players have entered the game. Can’t wait!

Shatter Me: The New Republic Book 2: Release Me by Tahereh Mafi

 

Shatter Me: The New Republic Book 2

The searing second volume in a new series set in the #1 global bestselling Shatter Me universe ten years after the fall of The Reestablishment.

Rosabelle Wolff had a plan. Now she wants revenge. To save her sister she needs to get back home and destroy the system that created her. Rosabelle’s greatest strength is her ability to deaden her mind and body; it’s the only way to survive the surveillance state of Ark Island. But lately her heart has been beating harder; her thoughts are spiraling; her defenses are coming undone.

And there’s only one person to blame.

James Anderson had a plan. Now he has nothing but problems. Rosabelle might be the ally they need in a fight against The Reestablishment, but no one wants to trust an enemy assassin. It doesn’t help that Rosabelle’s not much of a talker, doesn’t work well in groups, and kills people on instinct. Taking her side has cost James nearly everything—but keeping her alive might help save his world.

If only he could convince his older brother.

Aaron Warner Anderson has a headache. Something dark is coming, and Rosabelle’s arrival is just a prelude. In her, he sees shades of himself he can’t trust, and he can no longer get a read on the girl. She’s a dead battery, emanating no emotional feedback. At least not until James walks into a room…

Volcanic tension, breathless reveals, breakneck action—and a dystopian world that never stops raising the 

Welcome back to The New Republic.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/237100532-release-me

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Dang. Another freaking cliffhanger. Still, I’m glad to be back in this world with a new series! I devoured this book. The fast pacing makes it so easy to fall into and just not look up until you’re done. And with the way the previous book ended, I was eager to dive back in to see what happened next. Rosabelle may have decided to destroy the system that created her but any trust she may have gained has definitely shattered. Not that anyone besides James was willing to hear her out. Now, she has to find a way to get back home and quickly. Or else, it may just be too late to save anyone. James is paying the price for bringing Rosabelle into their world. But deep down he believes that she can help them. But proving that, especially to his brother, is nearly impossible. And the connection between Rosabelle and James just grows more intense. And as for Warner, well, he is being Warner. Protecting everyone the best he can but never taking a moment to breathe. He is doing his best to stay ahead but he knows he is missing some pieces. And something bad is coming. He knows it. So much going in such little time. At this point, I just really need the next book to finally see how it all plays out. But I loved seeing so many familiar faces and the constant banter between them all. Easily the best part of this book. Another reason I couldn’t put it down. And I can’t wait to see what happens next after this latest cliffhanger! 

Cranham Kings Book 1: Hostile Game by Becca Steele

 

Cranham Kings Book 1

From USA Today and WSJ bestselling author, Becca Steele, comes an all-new M/F standalone enemies to lovers college hockey romance.

As the daughter of the head of the Thorpe Syndicate, my life was decided for me from the beginning. I was expected to look a certain way. Act a certain way. To put the syndicate above my own desires. To marry the son of the head of another crime family in a deal brokered by my father.

The night my arranged betrothal was announced was when everything changed.

My brother’s best friend chased me into the woods and stole my first kiss.

Now, my engagement is drawing closer. I’m doing my best to survive one day at a time, keeping my head down while I attend classes at Cranham University, a former Victorian prison and home of the Cranham Kings hockey team.

But he’s there, a constant reminder of what happened in the woods. His hateful gaze tracks me in the hallways and the lecture halls. I loathe him. Yet when he’s flying across the ice with his teammates, I can’t help but notice him.

And the way he makes me feel? That’s a secret I’ll take to the grave.

Tensions are rising. Something is brewing, and my family risks being caught up in it all. I don’t know who I can trust, and as for Jay?

He’s a complication I can’t afford, because the consequences would be devastating for us all.

Hostile Game is part of Cranham Kings, a college hockey romance series of M/F and M/M interconnected standalones. Please note that this series contains darker themes.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/244393450-hostile-game

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Being born in a mafia type world, Nova knew her life wasn’t her own. But an arranged marriage? It’s the last things she wants. At least her fiancé feels the same way about her. They are both there because they have to be, not because they want. Now with the engagement coming closer and closer, things are starting to feel real. But there is a complication. Her feelings for her brother’s best friend, Jay, has started to shift from something that feels very opposite of hate. She always thought he hated her but it’s starting to look like it was his way of shutting down his feelings. They can’t be together. They both know it. But they can’t seem to stay away. Jay knows Nova can never be his. He’s done his best to push her away and just stay away. But it’s only a matter of time until his control snaps. And with tensions rising between all the syndicates and his own family getting dragged into something, he knows he has to figure out what is going on before it’s too late. This was a great start to this new series! We got a lot of interesting characters. I’m looking forward to a lot of them getting their owns books. I really liked Nova and Jay’s story. Their tension and chemistry were great and I was on the edge of my seat as I tried to figure out how these two could find their happy ending. Great first book to kick this off! I can’t wait for more.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shield of Sparrows Book 2: Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry

 

Shiel of Sparrows Book 2

RITES OF THE STARLING is the epic, heart-pounding sequel to Devney Perry’s #1 New York Times-bestselling SHIELD OF SPARROWS. A princess journeys across a cursed realm to find the truth about her family, only to discover her quest intertwines with the fate of a lost warrior. Love, danger and magic collide in a captivating romantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros.

Calandra’s five kingdoms are on the verge of destruction. The crux migration is coming. And in the wake of a devastating attack, I’ve been separated from the man who owns my heart.

I’m lost. Terrified. Homesick. Hunted by monsters, driven to exhaustion, and kidnapped by a powerful priest, the only thing keeping me going is the little girl counting on me to keep her safe. It’s my turn to become the Guardian.

Our lives change one fateful night. A night of death. A night of monsters. A night of truths. That night, I learn the real meaning of fear—and the depth of my own strength.

Everyone wants me to be something I’m not—a queen, a spy, a sacrifice. But what if I embrace my crown? What if the secrets I uncover save our realm?

What if my sacrifice means salvation for the man I love?

For too long, I’ve feared the monsters we make.

It’s time to discover the monster within.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241058997-rites-of-the-starling

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

This story just keeps getting better! So this was awesome and now I’m super excited to get to the final book of the series. Too bad I have to wait another year. So lots of twists and turns in this story. And some new things as well. First, let’s start with Odessa. After the last battle, Odessa and Evie are separated from Ransom. One of the Voster leads them on their bit of a side quest while Odessa plans to get her and Evie to Quentis. There she hopes they’ll be safe and Ransom will know her well enough to head there. They just gotta survive first. Meanwhile, we are introduced to a new point of view character, Caspia. Who is from another continent and when she has a vision about the death of her sister, she leaves with her cousin to find her. And let’s just say a lot goes down and she will discover a lot on her journey. And that’s really all I can say without spoilers. I will say though, I had a theory early on in the book about Caspia’s connection to Odessa’s journey, because how can you get a new point of view character and not wonder what it has to do with our main, and I ended up being proven right which was pretty sweet. But this book explains A LOT. So many questions are answered. Things are falling into place and by the end we know what our heroes need to do next. I really just couldn’t put the story down. I loved all of it. And I really can’t say much without spoilers, but trust me, you do not want to miss this! And I can’t wait to see how this series ends!

Desert Football Book 5: Blindside Lesson by Christie Gordon

Desert Football Book 5

Getting a tutor was supposed to be about passing my class. Instead, it became the one thing I wasn’t prepared for.

Tex (Travis)

Football is my future. The draft. Everything I’ve worked for.

Walking into my tutor’s apartment, I don’t expect Colton Reed—quiet, brilliant, and tempting in a way that hits me hard.

He’s not my normal type. He’s not supposed to be an option.

He’s my tutor.

But he looks at me like I matter, like I’m more than a jersey and a body built for the line.

Every study session blurs into something closer. Heavier. Harder to walk away from.

I’ve never been confused about who I want.

But Colton makes me want things I can’t afford to lose.

My career. His job. Both our hearts.

And once I fall, I fall hard.

Colton

I like rules. Order. Lines that don’t get crossed.

Tutoring Travis Rowlings should’ve been simple.

Help him pass. Keep it professional. Don’t get attached.

Except he’s warm and earnest and looks at me like I’m something worth choosing.

And wanting him terrifies me, because I’ve never wanted a man like this before.

I’m not out. My father wouldn’t understand.

And falling for Travis could cost me everything I’ve built.

But every secret kiss and stolen moment pulls me deeper.

Pretending this doesn’t matter is becoming impossible.

I’m falling for my student.

And I can’t stop.

Blindside Lesson is book 5 in the Desert Football series, featuring a golden-hearted offensive lineman, a guarded graduate-student tutor, bi awakening vibes, forbidden attraction, secret dating, emotional vulnerability, found family, and heat that builds until it breaks.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246640268-blindside-lesson

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

When Tex’s class is a little bit harder than he expected, he knows it’s time to get a tutor. He just never expected to fall for Colton. The moment they meet, Tex knows he is in trouble. Colton is sweet and smart and just everything Tex could want. But is there a chance that Colton feels the same? Colton has been through a lot. He lost his mom when he was eighteen, his dad was barely around and he has just never coped well with his grief. He likes to be in control. And he knows he needs it. But he never expects to get feelings for Tex. He has spent so long hiding that part of himself and Tex threatens to break down every wall he has. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to keep those walls up and it’s only a matter of time until they come crumbling down. Can Colton be brave enough to embrace his feelings for Tex? Tex and Colton were a great match. I loved that Tex was able to help Colton get the support he needed and be there by his side as he gained his confidence to be the person he was always meant to. Tex was also just so sweet and supportive. He didn’t rush or push Colton, he let him know he was there by his side in any way he needed. A great way to end this series! You don’t want to miss this one!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.